I bought mine on Ebay. It's got a 7" screen and looks more like a tablet than a Satnav. It was only about £45 if I recall correctly. I bought it to help me get around London when I was working from our London office a year or so ago
Built in Satnavs
- Thread starter billz
- Start date
I certainly won't be buying another top of the range Garmin system... 
Dim witted system that likes to reboot itself regularly, and usually at a critical point of the journey.
Dim witted system that likes to reboot itself regularly, and usually at a critical point of the journey.
Its great to see an obvious techie like your good self call a bit of technology 'dim witted'I certainly won't be buying another top of the range Garmin system...
Dim witted system that likes to reboot itself regularly, and usually at a critical point of the journey.
I think I would have chucked it before now. I have a Garmin handheld GPS and I find it difficult to get on with too.
Have spent may years writing software and IMHO satnavs still have a long way to go. Mine will take you an extra 30 miles on a 25 mile journey just to save you 30 seconds! Take the fastest route for sure, but not at the expense of fuel when the difference is small. Also, why do they insist on telling you every part of a journey on the bits that you travel regularly and know? I frequently almost find myself shouting "I know this bit you dozy…..".
I'm sure Sat Nav technology will catch up in time, but I've never understood why they don't add some element of learning to the devices particularly to destinations you regularly visit. I know people will ask why use it to go to places you know how to get to, but mine also does traffic so will avoid jams on the journey... which leads on to...
...the worst feature on my device is the traffic avoidance, in that it doesn't bother to tell that your route has been recalculated unless you spot it doing it. I've had several instances where I've politely asked it why it wants me to come off at the next junction, only to ignore it (stupid thing) and then join the back of stationary traffic. Can't be that hard to put a notice on the screen can it?
...the worst feature on my device is the traffic avoidance, in that it doesn't bother to tell that your route has been recalculated unless you spot it doing it. I've had several instances where I've politely asked it why it wants me to come off at the next junction, only to ignore it (stupid thing) and then join the back of stationary traffic. Can't be that hard to put a notice on the screen can it?
My Landy at least tells you there's congestion (sometimes 200 miles away!) and if you accept the re-route (or ignore it several times I think) it it will then redirect you. However, because it works on TMC rather than Google traffic, it is entirely dependent on the broadcast traffic information. Some of that is manually created and frequently out of date. I occasionally end up using my RAC app to check what its saying to see how far away the problems are.
I've not had chance to try out the traffic in the Zed yet (Gail's Z4 BTW - still having too much fun with the 6k revs in second
) but I don't like the grey background on the display either. It is very hard to see and digest the information at a glance. I can't see a profile or style setting to change it. Poor implementation!
So I got a reply from the Satnav company and an upgrade version DVD for the Satnav system in my Touareg would be the princely some fo £205 + vat. Just shy of 250 then, I think
I'd be better off buying a new portable one instead. I could probably pick up a used one from eBay for much less even if it wasn't bang up to date, it would be better than the 2005 version.
Tony.
I'd be better off buying a new portable one instead. I could probably pick up a used one from eBay for much less even if it wasn't bang up to date, it would be better than the 2005 version.
Tony.
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2011
- Points
- 226
- Location
- Langley Mill
- Model of Z
- Z4 3.0si Individual Ruby Black Last one produced in this colour combo
Glad i have BMWs £25 and works a treat
Does yours run a disc Bill, or is it a download upgrade? I sure won't be paying out £250 as the car might be going later in the year anyway. Back to the 'Bay.
Tony.
Tony.
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2011
- Points
- 226
- Location
- Langley Mill
- Model of Z
- Z4 3.0si Individual Ruby Black Last one produced in this colour combo
I got firmware upgrade for the unit to enable 7 digit postcode and 3D and 2x Map Disc. 1 for Western Europe and the other is for Eastern Europe
and it came with free life time up grades.
Haven't tried to upgrade yet though, just incase it commits suicide and self destructs.
It is very basic in that it is Satnav only and doesn't give me traffic updates, but it's better than a compass and a road map
DivideBYZero
Zorg Guru (I)
The DVD based Mk4 is nice and hackable. I upgraded my E46 M3 from the Mk3 CD based system, to MK4, updated firmware to enable 3D maps, camera locations, extended VDO POI search, 7 digit Postcode and a nice ///M logo upon startup. In addition I added the outstanding Intravee 2 iPod integration, which gave OEM look and feel to the iPod interface on the MK4 and enabled steering wheel key mapping and Sat based clock updates, amongst other things.
I've not touched the HDD based CIC system in the E92...
I've not touched the HDD based CIC system in the E92...
Now that's a whole new language to this Oldcarman !! JIM
DivideBYZero
Zorg Guru (I)
I'm into technology.
I can't even spell that!! lol JIMI'm into technology.
I downloaded Via Michelin to my Samsung phone last weekend. Maps are stored on the microSD card in the phone (I think 8Gb is required, I have 16Gb) so data connection is not required for Satnav to work. Only played with it on a 20 mile journey so far. Recalculates route quickly when chose to go a different way (which is often) and displays map or next turn format, also shows speed limit and current speed with options for various warnings. First impressions are very good and only things I don't like so far is the rather clunckie input and invitations to download more Michelin apps.
Of course my best "Satnav" usually sits in the passenger seat with paper map on her knee!!!
Bet you can't turn her off as easily though
I thought about making some comment about my natural charm my "Satnav" always being turned on!!! but I am much too modest.Bet you can't turn her off as easily though